Pep Guardiola Concerned About Manchester United's Lack Of Success In The Last Decade

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits that he can understand the situation experienced by Manchester United (photo: x @mancity)

JAKARTA - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits that he can understand the situation experienced by Manchester United due to the lack of real success in the past decade.

The Red Devils have not won a Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. They have only won one FA Cup, one Europa League, one Community Shield, and two EFL Cups in 11 years since the legend's departure. In that period, City has collected 18 trophies.

Ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday 3 March at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Guardiola said that there was constant pressure to win in big clubs, and United's problems were further exacerbated by the high standards set by Ferguson.

"In big clubs, you have to win and keep winning," he said. "Not just United, you have to win in big clubs. It's not easy for United to get out of an incredibly successful period with Sir Alex and deal with it, it's not easy. Sometimes I can understand it."

"Previously in England, managers had more patience. Today everyone has a lot of pressure. But a diagnosis [United] as I said before, I don't know why. I wasn't there," he said.

After completing a 28% share purchase at United, Sir Jim Radcliffe revealed last week that he wanted to overthrow City and other rivals, Liverpool, from their top spot - a statement similar to Ferguson's spirit at the start of his career at Old Trafford.

Guardiola went on to say that it was possible for MU to regain their top position in English football as the era in this country did not last forever.

"In the 80s Liverpool, in the 90s it was United, and now we have won seven Premier Leagues in the last 11 or 12 years," added Guardiola.

"In 50 or 60 years, there has never been a single country where a team dominates and controls everything, but we are trying to extend this as much as possible for years," he said.